Candle burner



June -15, 1954 R. H. CHURCHILL 2,680,963

CANDLE BURNER Filed Aug. 11, 1950 27 30 I %VVENTOR. 24 @m %@ud,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a candle burner, and more particularly to means for causing the candle to burn with greater efficiency.

It has been the practice to use followers comprising tubular members of substantial weight upon candles while providing a neck extending upwardly and around the wick. Also tubular means are employed for enclosing the candle while employing springs for pressing the candle upwardly against a shoulder at the top of the tube as the candle is consumed. In both structures, the heat of the candle and the melted wax, which circulates in a pool at the base of the exposed portion of the wick, produces a softening of the shoulder of the candle and a premature yielding of this portion of the candle. Fur ther, in the spring-urged structure, the follower block is wedged deeply into the softened wax at the top of the candle and considerable effort and work is required to separate it from the follower and to clean the follower.

An object of the present invention is to provide an extremely simple structure which obviates the above difiiculties while at the same time increasing the efficiency of the burning of the candle. A still further object is to provide a disposable well-cap which may be stripped mi and thrown away after the follower block has pressed the softened wax therethrough. A still further object is to provide an extremely light weight well-cap which imposes a minimum of weight or stress against the shoulder of the candle while at the same time forming a protective enclosure and support for the shoulder. A still further object is to provide with such a well-cap, simple and adjustable means for drawing a candle upwardly against the cap as the candle is consumed. A still further object is to provide a candle structure adapted for use in a portable stove or cooking device. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in preferred embodiments by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a candle support structure equipped with means embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken vertical sectional view; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one form of carburetor that may be used; Fig. 4, a perspective view of a well-cap embodying my invention; Fig. 5, a vertical sectional view of a collapsible stove equipped with a candle support device embodying my invention; Fig. 6, a vertical sectional view of the candle well-cap and candle support means employed therewith; Fig. 7, a perspective view of the well-cap shown in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8, a side View in elevation of the support device being drawn to exert pressure against a candle which is almost consumed.

In the illustration given in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, I 0 designates a candle burner base provided with a tube member II. The tube II may be secured within the base 10 by friction, or, if desired, threaded connections may be employed. A spring I2 is supported in the lower portion of the base [0 and presses a follower block or member I3 upwardly. A candle I4 is carried upon the block I3.

About the top of the candle I4, I employ a well-cap I5 having an elongated, inclined shoulder I6 and an upper tubular well portion I! of reduced diameter. The well-cap I5 is preferably formed of light weight, frangible, heat-nonconducting material such as, for example, paper which is made fireproof by treatment with carbon tetrachloride or any fireproofing material. Also, materials such as casein or ceramic materials may be used. I prefer to use a very light weight well-cap which has cone-like shoulders fitting about the top cone portion of the candle while extending laterally thereof so as to provide an air space between the inner portion of the candle and the skirt or lower portion of the cap V metal tube the skirt and the candle is shown as indicated in Fig. 2 by the numeral I 8. The depending skirt of the cap I5 is cylindrical in shape and forms an insulation against the II of the candle support so that the shoulder portion of the candle is kept free of any heat transmitted through tube I I. The shoulder portion I6 of the well-cap forms a seal with the shoulder and centers the candle within the cap,

I5. The space between while preventing the transfer of heat downwardly about the shoulder portion. At the same time, the skirt portion below the shoulder I6 provides the dead air space I8 for insulating the lower portion of the candle shoulder and for shielding the shoulder from heat that would otherwise be transmitted by the tube II.

Upon the neck I!) of the carburetor device 20. The carburetor comprises a tubular member formed of coils 2! and having air passages extending transversely therethrough. If desired, a metal tube having perforations therethrough maybe used. I prefer, however, to form the tubular member, by coiling the wire 2|, as illustrated best in Figs. 2 and 3. The carburetor 20, together with its support),

' vmay be readily placed upon and removed fromthe portion I6 I place thecollar 'cap 25 having a small slit 3 well-cap l5. The collar it may be dropped over the well I! to install the carburetor, and may be lifted off of the well portion I? when it is desired to remove the well-cap after the candle has been consumed.

Operation In theoperation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the spring I2 urges the follower block l3 upwardly and the candle H5 is centered by the engagement of its shoulders with the shoulder portion iii of the well-cap l5. The end of the wick may be below or 111 the lower portion of the tubular carburetor 20, and the flame is rendered more efhcient by the coils 2! thereof.

The tubular structure 2! gives an effective control of the volume of air admitted to the flame and creates a sufiicient turbulence of the air within the neck to give a more complete combustion for the flame and prevents smoking of the flame. The coils are preferably formed of metal wire which'become heated during burning of the flame and the heat of the coil greatly increases the chiciency of the combustion of the flame.

While the wire coils on becoming heated transfer the heat from the flame down into the neck and thus bring the gas from the molten pool of wax up to a temperature for most efhcient combustion, the shoulders of the wax are protected against such radiated heat and heat conducted effectively in centering the candle by their engagement with the conical wall it of the wellcap l5.

After the candle has been consumed substan tially, the spring-urged block [3 presses the molten wax about the cap it to produce an irregular molten body covering the inside of the cap and wedging the bloc}; therein. The frangible cap i5 may now be torn to free the block and remove the wax and the cap may be thrown away. By providing a frangible cap which can be readily stripped or broken away from the'block, the separting of the mass from the block requires but an instant and the'cap with the waste mass therein may be disposed'of.

In the structure shown in Figs. '5 to 8, inclusive, I provide a structure which provides a sheltered candle, causing'the flame to'burn more efficiently' while at the same time adapting the candle for use in a stove or other heating device. In the specific illustration given, the stove 22 is provided with a hinged portion 23 apertured centrally to receive the candle 24. The candle 24 is supported within the aperture by a welland on each diametrically opposed side of the or aperture 2% therein,

is released, the upper portion of the band expands and prevents that portion of the band from being drawn downwardly by the tension of the lower stretched loop portion of the band. In Fig. 8 is illustrated the condition of the band 21 when the candle 24 is almost consumed. In the structure illustrated, the cap 25 is provided with a rather high well portion 28 adapted to extend around the lower portion of the flame and wick, while the shoulder portion 29 is adapted to bear against the upper end of the candle and to center the candle therein. The shoulder extends beyond the circumference of the candle and provides a depending tubular skirt 30 spaced from the candle by-a dead air space 3!, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6.

A variety of fireproof materials which may be readily torn or stretched away without shattering, may be employed. For example, in addition to treated paper, certain cloths may be treated to render them fireproof; fireproof resins i or plastics-which are readily split may also be used, and various impregnated plastics may be used with fibrous materials. I prefer paper because of its light weight, high insulating .value,.and adaptability for receiving fireproofing materials and stifiening impregnating materials. The paper may be readily impregnated with lacquer to stop the capillary action of the paper while at the same time rendering it fireproof. 7

Instead of using a rubber band '21, artificial rubber or any other elastic material may be employed. The aperture 26 may be a small horizontal slit tightly receiving the elastic band, or it may be of any size smallerithan the normal cross-section of the unstretehed band.

While, in the ioregoing specification, I have set forth specific structures inconsiderable. de-. tail ior the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art. without departing from the spirit of my invention. it

I claim: 7 l 1 p 1. In a candle burner,'a tube having relatively good heat conductivity-,a candle axially movable cap. A rubber ribbon 21 is drawn through the apertures 25 and the bottom portion of the loop thus formed engages the bottom of the candle. As the candle is consumed, the protruding portions of the rubber band 2'? may be drawn to equalize the pressure against the bottom ofthe candle. As the rubber" band 21 is drawn, the

neck thereof passing through the apertures 2&3 becomes elongated so as to allow the band to be drawn therethrough. However, when the band in said tube, means for urging 7 said candle upwardly' in said tube, a well-cap member having relatively good heat insulating'properties in telescopicengagement with the upper end of said tube and extending thereabove for preventing the upper portion of the candle from overheating, and a carburetor carried by said cap member and having portions surrounding the wick of said candle and tending to distribute the heat of a flame about the wick for establishing opti mum combustion conditions. V

' 2'. The structure of claim 1 inwhich at least the upperportion of said cap member about the flame of the candle'isfire-resistant.

3.Thestructure of claim 2 wherein said cap member is frangible. c

4. The structure of claim l in which said tube is metaland said carburetor is metal. 7

5. The structure of claiml in which said cap.

member has a lower tubular portion of enlarged diameter telescopically engaging said tube, and an upwardly'and inwardly inclined shoulder por tion terminating in a well portion of reduced;

diameter.

' '6. The structure of claim 5 in which said carburetor is equippedwith an annular ring fricv tionallyengaging said we ll portion of reduced diameter.

, 7 .-Ina candle burner, ,a tubefhaving leia tively good heat conductivity and being adapted to receive a candle therein, means for urging a candle received in said tube upwardly therein, a well-cap member having relatively good heat insulating properties in telescopic engagement with the upper end of said tube and extending thereabove for preventing the upper portion of a candle supported in said tube from overheating, and a carburetor carried by said cap member and having portions thereof adapted to surround the wick of a candle supported in said tube and tending to distribute the heat of a candle flame 6 about the wick of the candle for establishing optimum combustion conditions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 105,257 Ryder July 12, 1870 712,216 Tovey Oct. 28, 1902 1,923,826 Hogg Aug. 22, 1933 2,017,533 Friedrichs Oct. 15, 1935 2,231,656 Bormann Feb. 11, 1941 2,503,236 Churchill Apr. 11, 1950 

